In the next week or two, I will be starting back at work after a 3 month absence due to PCS. Part of the reason for the return is because there isn't a lot of "proof" to vailidate PCS (even with a Doctor's assessment) and insurance companies and employers are interested more in money than an employee's full recovery. I am a little bitter about that but I am working on changing to have a positive attitude before I go back.

Back to the point...The office I work in can be a little noisy with voices carrying from one end of the building to another and lots of echo sounds. I don't think I'll be working on the computer right away so that's a good thing. I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience going back to work or school after such a long absence???

I'm a little nervous that my symptoms will be worse. I'm also worried that I'm going to give the wrong impression to people - the folks I work with are great and very friendly however I find it hard to concentrate during conversations and haven't socialized since the accident.

Any experiences you could share would be helpful

Hi Ski,

I haven't posted here for a while, it's 3 years since I hit my head falling backwards off my BMX.

My injury was perhaps a little different. Like you I wasn't knocked out but I did have a very frightening 10-15 minutes when I was completely confused and disorientated. I expected to be fine after that but after a couple of days I started to get acute anxiety and I gradually became more and more unwell. I experienced severe depersonalisation and had to move back with my parents or I'm sure I wouldn't have made it.

Anyway, 6 months later I felt strong enough to start volunteering at a local arts centre. They suggested I enrol on a fine art degree at the college. I really didn't think I was up to it, my concentration was pretty bad and I generally felt depressed, anxious, detached, very foggy and I was quite terrified about what my life was gonna be like long term having got myself into this state.

But I gave it a go. It was really hard, but somehow, whatever the course demanded, I was able to push myself to accomplish. I know there is a lot of talk about not over exerting yourself and not stimulating your brain too much so that it can heal but I really think as long as you're not wearing yourself into the ground then it will tell you how much it can handle. The flipside is that much of the brain's recovery rests in its neuroplastic potential and this means you need to work it in order for it to reroute itself.

So, from my experience, getting back to work, providing it is a positive place for you and you feel good about your job, is a good thing to do, but just make sure you stay in control as sometimes you may well need to step out of things and take a break.

Don't expect people to understand....they don't. People think a mild concussion is something you recover from in a day or two, they don't realise that in occasional cases it somehow becomes a much longer term affair and makes life incredibly hard in a whole new set of ways. My own family believed it was a mental breakdown I was suffering from, not a brain injury....both were true I suppose, depends whether you look at me as consisting of atoms or thoughts and feelings, and of course I'm both.....but I know what I experienced was a direct result of my injury.

So my advice is give yourself a push where you feel able and be strong enough to give yourself the breaks that you need. In my first year at college I could often be found asleep on my table in the studio!

I still have symptoms, the world doesn't look as 3 dimensional as it did, I can feel overwhelmed in noisy places and I go to bed every night with a wooshing sound in my right ear....but I'm top of my class, I ride BMX better than ever (with a helmet) and I just won 2 prizes at a major art show....so I have a life again.

Wish you the best.

Ski,

You may want to take some foam ear plugs to work. It is amazing how much you can hear with them in. The normal conversation sounds will be understood but the background sounds will be reduced. I like the yellow cylindrical foam plugs. Twist them tight then insert them.

The ear plugs will also be a reminder to yourself and others that you are still healing. If you want to get some quality plugs, you can get musicians ear plugs at most hearing aid clinics. They cost about $175 and are custom fitted.

Expect to need to take a break for some eyes closed time. Giving your brain a rest from the visual stimulation will help you through then day.

Good luck at work.

My best to you.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Benjamin, your recovery and grades are really encouraging! Problems with memory and recovering words during a conversation have decreased my confidence in my intelligence somewhat - It seems as though I haven't become less smart, my brain just needs to reroute the path to the information.

Mark, I like the ear plug idea and think that could really be helpful in the environment I will be working in. It's right about now that I wish I had my own very private office with dark blinds and thick walls!


I don't expect people will get it. I have a great, albeit small support system that includes about 5 people. The few I have been in touch with from work don't understand why the doctor can't prescribe me a medication that will cure my symptoms. It is true that the symptoms are "all in our heads" and stigmatizing that can be very hurtful. People think we're crazy and we feel like we're going crazy. It doesn't help that there isn't an x-ray to show our sensitivity to light and noise or a scan that shows a constant blurry vision and dull headache that just never goes away. UGH! Wouldn't it be nice if we lived in a world where everyone was only helpful and non-judgemental?

I can also suggest some sunglasses. Or tinted glasses even if you get
a pair that hasn't got a prescription in them. Some colors are better
than others. Blue has been very helpful for my son with his seizure
situation.


So I would also suggest that.

Donna

Hi Skiconcussion,

When I initially read your first new comer post I couldn't believe how similar
our accidents were; and now I too face the burden of returning to work.

On Feb 5th 2011 I fell backwards snowboarding down a steep slope. The outcome was some really bad whiplash, bad enough for me to be experiencing PCS symptoms. Like you, I went on with my daily routine for almost and entire month-ignoring the symptoms thinking they would just go away.

It has almost been 3 months now. I'm currently collecting employment insurance but it is running out and soon am forced to return to work.

The main symptoms I'm dealing with still are:

Marjor - Lightheadedness, dizziness, unsteadiness and concentration problems. I have a serious lack of clarity all the time!

Minor - Random headaches they do come on but not often and not for extended periods of time, tinnitus and sensitivity to sound (I work in Construction management which may pose a problem - ear plugs are a must)

I've been dealing with on/off depression. Mainly depressed about not being able to be my old social and active self...and no sex! come on...wow.

I know that if I go back to work, I can do it, but will be a nightmare and will it hinder my recovery?

Ironic how you mentioned you were excited hear about all the success stories on this site when you first joined. I felt the same way, but as I started reading and delving into the threads I actually became more discouraged about recovery than before I joined Neurotalk.

It seems that many of the senior members believe there is no full recovery...pretty discouraging for any new comer.

Anyway, thats my 2 cents for the day. I guess this is a new battle that we are all fighting together.

I live in Nelson BC Canada. If you are reading this and you have PCS and live in the area, I would love to get together and chat.

Nitro

Thank you SOOOO much for your post regarding people not understanding. It's nice to realize I'm not alone in feeling like an outcast because people don't understand how life altering PCS can be, and that there isn't a pill to fix it or a test to prove it!

I have PCS and it has been 8 months since my accident. I never thought it could take so long to recover. I wanted to come on line to see how long it takes. My neuro Dr. told me it can take a year. My symptoms have changed some. Im not in the bad fog I was in. My thinking is clearer, but I catch myself zoning out all the time. I have trouble finding the right words to say and my spelling is horrible which is not a good thing because I am a writer. I have never had to google words for spelling. I seem to have long term memory but not so good at short term. My close up vision is good, my distant vision is blurry. so it keeps me from driving. I have headaches on one side of my head everyday. Some times I just do not make it out of bed. Im really trying to get better. I guess we all just want our lives back. I was hoping someone could tell me they just get better and better and back to how they were.

Your doctor is somewhat right about it taking a year. Nobody can say how long it will take. Some studies say that the symptoms that last after a year are often going to be long term or even permanent.

Most of the recovery from such symptoms is by way of learning work-arounds and other accommodations. There are many ways to work with the short term memory problems.

Have you had your eyes checked. Sometimes, visual therapy can be helpful.

I have serious immediate and short term memory dysfunctions but am able to function at a high level. I do have those bad days, but my good days can be quite good. Using the work-around skills I have learned, I can be very functional.

Do you have any history of prior concussions or even minor head bumps or impacts?

Head traumas are cumulative. Prior traumas can combine with your latest trauma and cause long lasting symptoms.

I have done extensive writing by using multiple displays. I use one for the work in progress and the other(s) for notes and research. Some computers come equipped for multiple screens. Others need a display adapter for the second screen.

It is well worth the expense. I am constantly correcting spelling. Spell check is a big help along with google.

Tell us about your biggest struggles. There are decades of PCS experience here.